Winemaker’s Comments

“The 2017 Estate Chardonnay brings forth a truly classic vintage from the mountain top, expressing all the elements we feel make this estate an incredible location to grow ageworthy, world class Chardonnays. Harvested in mid-September, and aged for nearly 16-months before bottling, the 2017 shows notes of pear galette with almond cream, and pineapple brûlé. The focused minerality and lingering stone fruit notes are highlighted by white flower and blossoms. A great creamy texture and full-bodied wine finishes with focus and freshness.” — Martha McClellan, Winemaker

Growing Season

The 2017 growing season began with significant and welcome rainfall. A dry and mild summer, followed by our typical set of Indian summer heat waves in the fall created extreme conditions that fueled the unprecedented firestorm of 2017 in Napa/Sonoma. Much of the fruit had already been harvested around the valley, and for the fruit that was still out, just like in other challenging years, it came down to location and commitment to doing what was needed in the vineyard to ensure the best chance at quality. With constant airflow on the hill, smoke never had the chance to settle on the fruit. The resulting wines have a wonderful balance of fineness, complexity and elegance, sure to be wonderfully age-worthy.

93–95+ PTS – Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate

“The 2017 Chardonnay Estate reveals scents of honey-drizzled apricots, pear tart and guava with touches of lemon curd, pineapple pastry, almond croissant and lime blossoms. Medium to full-bodied, it fills the palate with generous peach and tropical layers, supported with a decadently oily texture and great freshness, finishing long and spicy.”

Fact Sheet

Release Date: Fall 2019

Varietal Composition: 100% Chardonnay

Harvest: Hand picked at physiological ripeness in mid-September.

Fermentation: Whole-cluster pressed and barrel fermented with wild yeast, and weekly batonnage. This wine was bottled un-fined and unfiltered, with 100% malolactic fermentation.

Cooperage: 16 months in 25% new French oak from select artisan coopers.

Alcohol: 14.2%

Case Production: 430 cases

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States Available for Shipment

Listen, we do not make the rules, so unfortunately we cannot ship wine to AL, AR, DE, KY, MS, RI, and UT.